Perhaps the name should be changed to Valor Christian McCaffrey High School.

Has any high school ever been named after a current student, especially a junior?

McVP Christian McCaffrey scored the only touchdown of the game for Valor Christian on Saturday afternoon in its 9-0 dynasty-declaring Class 5A victory over the Cherokee Trail Cougars, who were as gritty as the Puquod's crew in "Moby Dick."

Neither team in this state championship could manage to score for the first 42 minutes. Valor Christian was nip, and Cherokee Trail was tuck.

"It was like an NFL game, back and forth, field position. We knew coming in that Cherokee Trail was going be tough. They sure were, but a win is a win," said McCaffrey, who knows of NFL games.

His father, now the third-most famous McCaffrey in the family, played in the NFL for 13 seasons — including 1996-2003, and two championships of his own, with the Broncos. Christian's older brother, Max, played on three Colorado schoolboy title teams at Valor Christian. Christian has just won his third title — and will have an opportunity to take state for a fourth time in 2013. McCaffrey became a starter midway through his freshman season.

"I think I want to celebrate this one for a while," he said. "It is something else."

It was something else for the Eagles, who reeled off 12 consecutive victories after losing their first two games — 14-13 to Mullen and 21-20 to Bingham, Utah.

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"We didn't belong on the same field with Bingham," Valor coach Brent Vieselmeyer said. "I think I appreciate this team more than the other championships. At 0-2, they could have lost their confidence. But when we got back to practice that Monday, they were more determined than any team I've ever had."

When I mentioned the word "dynasty" to Vieselmeyer, who has coached Valor to crowns in 3A, 4A (twice) and now 5A, he produced a Cheshire-cat grin and said: "We have a very good program."

The Eagles scored 40, or more points, in 11 consecutive games leading to the title game.

"Our offense gets all the attention, but today it was our defense against a stout Cherokee Trail team," he said.

This was the soaring Eagles' fifth shutout.

McCaffrey, named the game's MVP, proved to be the difference. The tailback-wildcat back-defensive back-punter-returner ended up with a rather average (for him) 156 rushing and receiving yards, but his major contribution was as a punt returner — and he didn't even have one.

What? Trail refused to give McCaffrey a chance at a return, choosing to punt out of bounds all afternoon rather than be burned. The strategy finally bit the Cougars in the tail in the fourth quarter. "We had good field position a lot," McCaffrey said. "And we finally made something out of it."

Following another short punt, the Eagles took over at the Cougars' 39. Quarterback Luke Del Rio — who also had a lukewarm game — converted a third-down pass to the 1-yard line. After being stopped shy twice, McCaffrey went over left tackle to score.

"I was trying not to think; I was just trying to keep running," he said.

He had fumbled the ball away twice earlier.

But, when the Eagles' merriment was over on the field, 30 minutes later, McCaffrey was given the trophy to carry into the tunnel toward the locker room.

"I know I can't drop this," McCaffrey said as he clutched the trophy. "I didn't play well, but the seniors and the defense got it done."

Yet, he already had been named the Colorado Gatorade player of the year earlier in the week, and the 6-foot, 190-pound Christian is being recruited by at least 20 major colleges. "It's been awesome," said McCaffrey, who was jumping around like a 6-year-old kid. Then, a 6-year-old kid asked for a photo and an autograph.

Among the witnesses Saturday was David Shaw, the Stanford coach. Fresh from his own Pac-12 championship Friday night, Shaw flew to Denver to watch Valor Christian and in particular, Christian. "I knew Coach Shaw was here, but we couldn't talk (NCAA regulations). Too bad he had to pick out this game to see me."

But the Cardinal could have the inside advantage for McCaffrey, who will decide sometime before his senior season where to play college ball. Christian's father Ed, and an ex-quarterback named Elway, played at Stanford.

McCaffrey doesn't have to apologize for anything. He finished with 1,508 yards rushing, 717 yards receiving, 387 yards returning, for a total of 2, 612 — and get this: 42 touchdowns this season.

His father had 46 touchdowns in nine seasons with the Broncos.

People used to chant "Ed-dee, Ed-dee" in Denver. Saturday, the cry was "Chris-chun, Chris-chun."

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